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HCR Law Events

Dispute Resolution

If you feel like you’ve been treated unfairly, or your business has been on the receiving end of an unjust decision, our dispute resolution solicitors can help defend your position, and put the situation right.

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What our clients say about us

Falling out over a personal or business matter can be stressful and disruptive. We hope you never need to instruct a solicitor to help you move forward. But when you realise you do, choose us, you’ll be glad you did. Adrian chose us:

“If you are feeling like a ‘David’ and up against a ‘Goliath’ (but you feel strongly you are in the right), Harrison Clark Rickerbys will work with you to find a weakness in the opposition and deliver the knockout blow.”
Adrian, founder and former CEO of ESG (Skills) Ltd

Case study: Harrison Clark Rickerbys helps company director right three wrongs

Adrian is the founder and former CEO of ESG (Skills) Ltd, which helped people fulfil their potential through skills training. As the owner of a thriving business, Adrian thought he was in a privileged and fortunate position. But then he was the victim of three instances of unfair treatment. In each instance, Harrison Clark Rickerbys helped him successfully fight his corner.

Righting the wrongs

One minute it’s business as usual. Then out of the blue something happens that means you’re fighting fires, and trying to find solutions to your new problem. Whether it’s because your business hasn’t been paid, you’ve been let down by a supplier, or you’re facing a change in your personal circumstances, our dispute resolution solicitors have the expertise to help resolve the issue and defend you and your business.

The decision to undertake litigation is a big one. And because we know that disputes can cause emotional stress and can indeed be very distracting, we use alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation, where we can, to help you get back to normal as quickly as possible. The vast majority of the cases we work on are resolved outside of court, saving you time, turmoil and money.

When the penny drops

If you’re faced with a dispute and you’ve exhausted your options, give us a call. We can help with:

  • Insurance issues
  • Commercial and corporate dispute resolution
  • Partnership dispute resolution
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Debt recovery
  • Financial dispute resolution
  • Real estate dispute resolution
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Director disputes
  • Wills, trusts and inheritance disputes.

What you’ll get from us:

Our specialist lawyers will use their experience of working on similar cases to yours, to help you understand the issues, determine what’s at stake and work out a strategy to get the best possible outcome. We’ll work with you to understand what you want to achieve, and plan a response that considers not only the legal implications, but the commercial impact or impact on your personal wealth.

Our advice is realistic and honest. With dispute resolution experts based in our nine offices across England and Wales, our lawyers are accessible and on-hand to help.

We hope you never need us, but when you realise you do, choose us – you’ll be glad you did.

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Harrison Clark Rickerbys helps company director right three wrongs

Adrian is the founder and former CEO of ESG (Skills) Ltd, which helped people fulfil their potential through skills training. As the owner of a thriving business, Adrian thought he was in a privileged and fortunate position. But then he was the victim of three instances of unfair treatment. In each instance, Harrison Clark Rickerbys helped him successfully fight his corner.

Protecting a business unfairly put at risk

The first time Adrian’s world was shaken was when the Learning Skills Council, a government funding agency, told him it was withdrawing funding it had previously agreed. The decision put the business at risk because it would leave it £1.5m behind budget, with a funding deficit of £366,000.

Adrian had a strong case to show the reasons behind the decision were unjustified. He approached Richard Morgan, head of dispute resolution at Harrison Clark Rickerbys for help. Richard successfully argued that the Learning Skills Council was unlawful in withdrawing the funding. ESG was saved thanks to Adrian’s determination and Harrison Clark Rickerbys’ expertise.

But this wasn’t the end of the story.

Defending unreasonable action from the board

Just as things were starting to settle down, Adrian had another shock. His board wanted to dismiss him for breach of fiduciary duties. Once again, Adrian had a strong case in his defence. And once again Harrison Clark Rickerbys successfully challenged the dismissal in court.

The story didn’t end here either.

Taking action against an invalid notice

Unknown to Adrian, ESG’s majority shareholder and the other minority shareholders implemented a put and call option. A put and call option gives a majority shareholder the right to compel a minority shareholder to sell their shares to a third party buyer at an agreed price within an agreed period of time.

The first Adrian heard of this was when he received a drag along notice from the majority shareholder requiring him to sell his shares for 20 pence. A drag along notice is the exercise of the majority shareholder’s right to force the sale of another shareholder’s shares at an agreed price within an agreed period of time. They are used to force minority shareholders out of a business. Adrian hadn’t been involved in any discussions to agree the price of the shares and he hadn’t had any previous offers to buy them, so he knew the notice was invalid.

At mediation, Harrison Clark Rickerbys successfully negotiated a settlement. Adrian received a confidential sum to end the matter.

Richard Morgan, head of dispute resolution said:

“Adrian is a successful businessman with an exceptional track record of results and an impeccable reputation so he was understandably angry about the way he was mistreated in each of these incidents. We were happy to help him defend his reputation and uphold his rights.”

Adrian said:

“If you are feeling like a ‘David’ and up against a ‘Goliath’ (but you feel strongly you are in the right), Harrison Clark Rickerbys will work with you to find a weakness in the opposition and deliver the knockout blow.”

Speak to one of our specialist dispute resolution solicitors

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